TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS THROUGH HERBS IN KUTCH

DISTRICT, GUJARAT STATE, INDIA - PART VI - PLANTS

WITH ANTIMICROBIAL / WOUND HEALING PROPERTIES

PURVI H. KAKRANI* , HARISH N. KAKRANI ** & AJAY K. SALUJA *

* A.R & G.H.PATEL COLLEGE OF PHARMACY, VALLABH VIDYANAGAR

**C.V.M.INSTITUTE FOR DEGREE COURSE IN PHARMACY,

NEW V.V. NAGAR

ABSTARCT:

The traditional phytotherapy of rural population of Kutch district has been surveyed. Due

to lack of modern health services in second biggest district of India, traditional modes of

treatment are still prevalent. We report here data on the plants / herbs used by local

people as antimicrobial particularly for wound healing. Information on widely accepted

and frequently used prescriptions involving 27 plants from 21 genera of 15 families are

presented herewith.

KEY WORDS; Traditional treatments, Kutch district, Antimicrobials / wound healing.

INTRODUCTION :

Literature survey reveals that Kutch district has never been exploited from ethno medical

view point, only floral studies were carried out but various workers (.Palin,; 1880: Blatter, E.

1908, a & b; :Thakar Indraji: (Gujarati language), 1928, .Kapadia, 1954, a & b; Puri &

Jain, 1958; Jain, & Kanodia, 1960; Jain & Deshpande , 1960).

METHODOLOGY

Ethno pharmacological survey of kutch was carried out to explore folk medicines

commonly in use for different ailments. The identification of plants was done by Dr.

Bhanu H. kakrani, of Department of Botany, Tolani College of Arts and Science, Adipur

and voucher specimen deposited in same department.

More than 400 informants were interviewed, elderly persons, were preferred who

were healers or Ayurvedic physicians. The data was considered valid when more than

ten informants gave similar answers on same plant. The data was collected from eight

subdivisions / Talukas out of ten. The remaining regions had rare vegetation being

inflicted with highly saline soils.

The survey generated interesting and valuable information which need to be

authenticated by pharmacological evaluation of these plants (Kakrani & Saluja, 1993, 1994,

2001, 2002, Kakrani, Kakrani & Saluja 2005 a & b). However some of these claims were

authenticated by pharmacological evaluations ( Kakrani & Saluja 2005 c &,d )

RESULTS

The information collected is arranged in following order, family and genera name in

alphabetical order, English name, synonym if any, local name/s, plant part /preparation

used medicinally and medicinal property as claimed by informants.

1. AMARANTHACEAE

i) Achyranthus aspera L. The prickly chaff flower, Aaghaado/ Aagaado Kaandhero-

aaghado, Fruits, antibacterial

2. ASTERACEAE /COMPOSITEAE

ii) Adenostemma viscosum Forst. Nindho-hazari. Leaf paste, wound healing,

iii) Gnaphalium luteo-album L..,Mundheri, peeri-puledi. Leaf paste wound healing.

iv) Siegesbeckia orientalis L.Peeri-puldi, Leaf juice skin disorders as antibacterial.

3. BIGNONIACEAE

v) Tecoma stans L / Bignonia stans L..Yellow flowered tecoma, Soneli-kaner, Vasant,

Treatment of boils, wound-healing.

4. BURSERACEAE

vi) Commiphora mukul (Hook Ex.stocks) Engl /Balsamodendron mukul Indian

bdellium, Gugar, Gugaria, Guggal; .fumes antibacterial.

vii) Commiphora roxburghii L..Mitho-gugar,fumes antibacterial

5. CAPPARACEAE

viii) Cleome simplicifolia (Camb) Rati-rai, Rato-vighro, Seed paste antibacterial in skin

disorders. Ashes mixed in castor oil as antibacterial/antimicrobial.

ix) Cleome simplicifolia (Camb) Rati-rai, Rato-vighro, Seed paste antibacterial in skin

disorders.

6 CAPPRRIDACEAE

x) Gynandropis pentaphylla (L) DC. Bidhro, Vado-bidhro, Achho-bidhro, leaf and root

juice antibacterial / wound healing

xi) Cyperus exaltatus Retz. Ghoda-chiyo, Zuger. Leaves & flowers wound healing.

xii) Cyperus haspan L. Field siege., Khetrau moth, Needar-moth, chityo. Leaves wound

healing.

xiii) Cyperus iria L. Var.Iria. L. Gull chiyo, Leelo Chiyo.Wound healing(Paste of

flowers)

xiv) Cyperus pygmaeus L Leelo-chiyo, Flowers paste wound healing.

7. LABIATAE / LAMIACEAE.

xv) Anisomeles indica / Nepeta Indica L.,Pathrayal-chodharo.Leaf paste wound

healing

xvi) Leucas linufoua Spreng / Leucas lavandulaefolia JE.Sanne pann jo kubo, Leaf

paste wound healing.

xvii) Leucas longifolia Benth. Vaddo-kubo, lamme pan-jo-kubo,Leaf paste-wound

healing

8. MALVACEAE

xviii) Althaea ludwigi L. Galio, Flowers antiseptic;; Roots –wound healing

9. MELIACEAE.

xix) Azadirchata indica A.Juss. Limbdo, Bakaan limbdo, limbdo. Seed oil, leaves &

flowers in skin disorder as antibacterial.

xx) Melia Azadirach L.Bakaan nimb,Irani-nimb,Rato-nimb, Seed oil antibacterial

10. OLEACEAE.

xxi) Jasminum sambac Ait. Jui, Leaves antibacterial.

11. OROBANCHACEAE.

xxii) Orobanche aegyptiaca Pers / O. indica Buch.Vakumbho, paste of aerial parts

wound healing.

12. OXALIDACEAE.

xxiii) Biophytum corniculata L. Naveri, Changeri, Paste of aerial parts antibaterial

xxiv) Biophytum sensitivum (L) D.C.Risamnu , Zarero, Leaves antibacterial, wound

healing.

13. PALMAE.

xxv) Hyphaene indica Bac.,Ravan Taad, Hakda-taad, Div-taad Fruits paste wound

healing,

14. POLYGALACEAE

xxvi) Polygala chinensis L Peeri-patsan, peeri-bhoysan. Leaf paste wound healing.

15. TILIACEAE

xxvii) Triumfetta rotundifolia Lam. Round leaved India burr., Bhurti, Japti, Paste

applied on bleeding wounds to stop blood flow and as wound healing;

REFERENCES1. Blatter, E.J., J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 1908, 19; 157.

2. Blatter, E.J., J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 1908, 19; 756.

3 Jain, S.K., Kanodia, K.C., Curr. Sc., 1960, 29; 361.

4 Jain, S.K., Deshpande, U.R., Bull. Bot. surv. India, 1960, 2; 287.

5 Jain, S.K., Deshpande, U.R., Memoir. Indian Bot. Soc., 1960, 3; 22.

6 Kakrani H.N.& Saluja A.K Ftoterapia , 1993 , LXIV(5), 463-465.

7. Kakrani H.N.& Saluja A.K.. Fitoterapia , 1994, LXV(5), 427.

8. Kakrani H.N. & Saluja A.K.. Journal of Natural Remedies, 2001,1 (2), 121-124.

9. Kakrani H.N. & Saluja A.K.. Journal of Natural Remedies,2002, 1(2),71.

10. Kakrani H.N & Saluja A.K., Planta indica, 2005, 1(1), 16

11. Kakrani H.N., Kakrani B.H. & Saluja A.K., Planta indica, 2005, 1(1), 16.

12. Kakrani H.N. & Saluja A.K..Planta indica, 2005, 1(2), 42

13. Kakrani H.N., Kakrani B.H. & Saluja A.K., Planta indica,2007 3(3) 1

14. Kapadia, G.A., Guj. Res. Soc., 1954, 16; 90.

15. Kapadia, G.A., Guj. Res. Soc., 1954, 16; 328.

16. Palin, C.T., A list of plants of Kutch, Bombay Gazetteer; 1880, 5.

17. Puri, G.S., Jain, S.K., Proc. Indian Sc. Cong. Part III, 1958, 326.

18. Thakar Indraji: Plants of Kutch & their utility (In Gujarati language), 192 ,11.